A new record label designed to promote Welsh music to the world will be officially launched today.

And among the first releases from Ty Cerdd Records are the new operatic version of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood.

Ty Cerdd Records will be the first label to completely devote itself to Welsh music and performers. It will produce and present music made in Wales to an international audience and revenue generated will be reinvested in Welsh music.

The label will feature both old and new recordings written by Welsh composers or performed by Welsh musicians based in Wales.

As well as performances of existing works and new commissions, the label will include re-mastered works from archival recordings, including those at the Welsh Music Archive at Ty Cerdd’s own music library at their home at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

The first production from the label, which is released today, is Bagatelles by one of Wales’ foremost 20th century composers Daniel Jones and Hungary’s Bela Bartok. Performed by international concert pianist Llyr Williams, it is the first commercial recording of the piece and will finally provide an international platform for Jones’ music.

Also coming form the label is Under Milk Wood – The Opera by John Metcalf. The operatic version of Dylan Thomas’ ‘play for voices’ was premiered at the Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea in April. The recording will be released on October 27, the 100th anniversary of the day the Swansea writer was born.

Seven Poems of Stillness by Hilary Tann, performed by cellist Guy Johnston and including archival recordings of R.S. Thomas reading his own poetry, will be released during The Gregynog Festival later this month.

Songs of Wales, performed by Stuart Burrows, will be released on August 4 at the National Eisteddfod in Llanelli. Ty Cerdd has digitally re-mastered important analogue recordings, previously unheard, of the great Welsh tenor’s work, making them available widely through the label and ensuring their survival.

And a performance of William Mathias’ setting of Ceremony After a Fire Raid by Dylan Thomas, which marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, will be released in November when Mathias would have been 80.

“The launch of our new record label is a significant step in bringing the music of Wales to a world audience,” said Gwyn L Williams, director of Ty Cerdd.

“I believe that Ty Cerdd has a leading role to play in the promotion of Welsh music alongside our main vision of being a ‘one stop shop’ supporting, the creation, performance and empowering experience of music, both in and of Wales.”

Culture Minister John Griffiths added: “In this digital age, this initiative provides the opportunity to promote Welsh music to an international audience as well as within the domestic market. “It also provides a wonderful chance for our many excellent amateur music groups to show the world our strength.”

News on this Day

Lost Cats – Lost and found in S Wales

If your cat is missing check our LOST CATS page
This area draws the Facebook pages of lost Cats in Cardiff and S Wales together for easy viewing .
It also includes GOOD NEWS stories of found cats like Ollie below !